Trespasser killed after being hit by Frontier plane during takeoff at Denver airport; 17 injured

A trespasser was killed after being struck by a Frontier Airlines aircraft during takeoff at Denver International Airport late Friday night, with the incident also leaving 17 people injured, airport authorities said.According to a statement issued by Denver International Airport, the individual breached airport security by jumping the perimeter fence and running onto the runway moments before being hit by Frontier Flight 4345.“Frontier Flight 4345 reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN. Emergency crews responded to the scene. Passengers were bussed to the terminal and the majority have since departed DEN on a new Frontier flight. DEN can confirm the pedestrian jumped the perimeter fence and was hit just two minutes later while crossing the runway,” the airport said.Emergency crews responded immediately after the collision. Passengers onboard the aircraft were evacuated and transported back to the terminal before being rebooked on another Frontier Airlines flight.Airport officials said the trespasser died at the scene and has not yet been identified.“The pedestrian is deceased, and is not believed to be an employee of the airport nor have they been identified. The airport has examined the fenceline and found it to be intact,” the statement added.Authorities said Runway 17L was temporarily closed as investigators examined the scene.“We are extremely saddened by this incident and express our sympathies to those involved,” the airport said.US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned the security breach and said the individual had “deliberately scaled a perimeter fence and ran out onto a runway” while the aircraft was taking off.“A trespasser breached airport security at Denver Int’l Airport, deliberately scaled a perimeter fence, and ran out onto a runway. The trespasser on the runway was then struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during takeoff at high speed. The pilot stopped takeoff procedures immediately. The Frontier plane was then quickly evacuated while law enforcement and firefighters responded. Preliminary reports are 12 people were hurt, with 5 taken to the hospital,” Duffy wrote in a post on X.He added that local law enforcement agencies, along with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration, are investigating the incident.Duffy also stressed that airport security is the responsibility of local authorities and warned that “no one should ever trespass on an airport.”